The UCF Foundation Board recently appointed five committee advisors to various committees that support the foundation’s mission, values and strategic goals. These distinguished individuals will lend their time, passion and expertise to assist the foundation’s board in its efforts to build the University for the Future, one that not only bolsters academic excellence but remains accessible to students of all backgrounds.
The new committee members are Cecile Bertot, a devoted philanthropist and community volunteer; Jeremy Sloane, founding partner of Watson Sloane PLLC; Scott Fagan ’94 ’03MPA, chief financial officer of Orlando Economic Partnership; Steve Curley ’07MBA , founder/chief investment strategist of 55 North Private Wealth and co-founder/host of The Investors First Podcast; and Treva Marshall, owner of TJM Communications.
The UCF Foundation Board of Directors has six permanent standing committees. Bertot and Marshall have been appointed to the Donor Engagement & Stewardship Committee, Sloane and Fagan to the Finance & Facilities Committee, and Curley to the Investment Committee. As the university continues to evolve and grow, these members, via their respective committees, will provide vital insight to the foundation’s financial practices, investment strategies, and donor engagement and stewardship activities.
“I am thrilled to welcome these talented individuals as committee advisors,” says Brian Butler, UCF Foundation’s board chair and president/CEO of JCB Construction. “Their consummate leadership and deep understanding of their industries and passion for UCF will support the board in its fiduciary responsibilities and commitment to advancing its mission.”
The focus areas and priorities of the committees align with UCF’s five-year strategic plan to achieve a top 50 ranking in the nation and a preeminence designation, which will elevate the university’s national profile and fuel the local economy by attracting global talent.
“With our goal to become the leading enterprise for research innovation and student success, the need is greater than ever for strategic input from our committees,” says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. “We are excited to have these new members on board and look forward to maximizing their expertise to unleash the potential of people and ideas to positively change the world.”
Briefs on New UCF Foundation Committee Members
Bertot has shown a passion for university-wide impact initiatives, especially food insecurity. A dedicated philanthropist, she has supported the Burnett Honor’s College Dean’s Excellence Fund and the Bertot Family First Generation Endowed Scholarship Fund, both of which provide access and opportunity to students with the drive and talent to succeed. She is the proud parent of three UCF alumni — graduates from 2017, 2019 and 2023 — and most recently served as chair of the Parent and Family Philanthropy Council, a leadership board of parent volunteers who engage with the university and community to enhance the UCF experience for all Knights.
Sloane is a corporate and tax attorney and a founding partner of the firm Watson Sloane. Sloane serves as outside general counsel to a variety of businesses. He also advises domestic and international clients on U.S. corporate, partnership, international, income and other tax-related matters. Before founding the firm, Sloane practiced in-house with a Fortune 50 corporation, in the tax group at DLA Piper and in the corporate group at Akerman. Sloane earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Florida Warrington College of Business Administration, a juris doctor from the University of Florida and an LLM in taxation from the University of Miami.
Fagan is an accounting and financial professional with nearly 30 years of progressive leadership experience in the Central Florida community. He has served as the chief financial officer for the Orlando Economic Partnership since July 2000. Previously, Fagan was the senior vice president and chief financial officer at Clearpoint, and also held positions at Orlando Magazine, Consumer Credit Counseling Service/ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions and Heart of Florida United Way. He received bachelor’s degrees in finance and accounting from UCF, as well as his master’s in public administration. He is currently chair of the Center for Innovative Arts & Education Dean’s Advisor Committee.
Curley recently founded 55 North Private Wealth, a private wealth management firm, and serves as a strategic advisor in the wealth management technology space. He is also co-founder and the host of The Investors First Podcast, a national award-winning podcast, in which he interviews CEOs, founders and thought leaders in finance with a goal of educating investors, advisors and consultants. Previously, Curley was a principal and chief investment officer of WaterOak Advisors. His wealth management expertise and media savvy have received recognition by Forbes (Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, 2017-19), Orlando Business Journal (Top 40 Under 40, 2019), Barron’s (Top 1200 Financial Advisors, 2020-21), and UCF’s College of Business (Hall of Fame Honorable Knight, 2022). An active volunteer in his community, he serves on UCF’s College of Business Finance Advisory Board and is a board member of CFA Society Orlando as well as a CFA charter holder. Curley earned an MBA from UCF in 2007. Additionally, in 2014, he established the Freddy Armfield Curley Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund to honor his grandmother.
Marshall is the president of her own communications company, TJM Communications, starting her firm over 20 years ago. It is coined as a lifestyle public relations firm specializing in travel, food and wine. Marshal attended Florida State University and received a bachelor’s in communications. TJM has received numerous honors from Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and recognition from PR Daily and the Florida Public Relations Association. Other personal awards include Orlando Business Journal’s 2015 Business Owner of the Year. Marshall is a member of the College of Arts and Humanities Dean’s Executive Council, board chair of the College of Arts and Humanities Opera, and board member of Center for Innovative Arts and Education Advisor Committee.
